Survey: Costly maintenance projects loom

Friday

May 16, 2014 at 5:00 PM

CITY OF NEWBURGH — Pattern for Progress on Thursday released its regional infrastructure survey, a prelude to a meeting next week with municipal officials challenged by costly maintenance projects and budget caps.

James Walsh

CITY OF NEWBURGH — Pattern for Progress on Thursday released its regional infrastructure survey, a prelude to a meeting next week with municipal officials challenged by costly maintenance projects and budget caps.

The survey showed 60 percent of municipalities have water systems needing major work within three years, and 51 percent face the same situation with their sewers.

"It's a cost that's often the first thing to cut," Pattern President Jonathan Drapkin said, "but it's the bread and butter that makes our society function."

The survey was done late last year and early this year. Responses came from 120 Hudson Valley villages, towns and cities.

Nearly 60 percent of respondents said they did not plan five years ahead for capital projects.

"That makes it very hard to address maintenance issues," said March Gallagher, Pattern's Chief Strategy Officer.

Pattern will host a meeting from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday to discuss the survey. Workshops are planned on financing and project planning. The meeting will be at Anthony's Pier 9, Route 9W South, New Windsor. The cost for admission is $50 for Pattern members, $60 for non-members. Elected and appointed officials and employees of local governments and school districts pay $30.

jwalsh@th-record.com

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